A Small Town with a Big Hockey Heart
WalletHub’s newly released study ranks Orono, Maine third nationwide among college hockey fans and twenty‑fifth for pro hockey enthusiasts, a surprising feat for a community of just 11,000 residents.
The study places Boston at the top spot and Lewiston, New York just ahead at second, highlighting a regional concentration of hockey fervor that belies the town’s modest size.
At the heart of Orono’s passion is the University of Maine, whose Black Bears program draws packed arenas and creates a campus‑wide rally that spills into the town’s streets on game nights.
Fans fill the stands with chants that echo through the rafters, turning each match into a communal celebration that underscores how deeply hockey is woven into daily life.
While the numbers may seem modest compared to the country’s megamarkets, the intensity of Orono’s support illustrates how a small town can punch far above its weight in shaping the national hockey culture.